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Barge Cruise: Finesse
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Cruise In France On The Canal du Centre In Southern Burgundy Aboard The Ultra Deluxe Hotel-Barge FINESSE


BARGE CRUISES: SEVEN DAYS/SIX NIGHTS
The 8-passenger Finesse is a luxurious double-decker barge, with a large, modern salon that has panoramic windows, comfortable sofas, a dining table for eight and an open demonstration kitchen, where guests can watch the chef prepare their gourmet meals. The four spacious twin or queen-bedded cabins all include a large ensuite bathroom with shower. Outside there is a spacious sun deck with alfresco dining area, comfortable seating and a spa pool.

The Finesse cruises on the picturesque Canal du Centre in the Southern Burgundy wine region, and includes excursions to Dijon and its famous market, a private wine tasting at Domaine Bouchard Pere et Fils in Beaune and a private Michelin chef-prepared lunch at the Bouchard Chateau, as well as a visit to the Château de Gemolles, the last residence of the Dukes of Burgundy. Passengers booking individual cabins will be transferred from Dijon to the barge and return. For charters, passengers may also be transferred from/to Paris, Geneva, or Lyon..

We were some of the first passengers on board the Finesse when it started cruising in May 2016 and can attest to the fact that it offers an exceptional luxury cruise. Over the years, we've been impressed with the size of the cabins and bathrooms, the large open salon and lounge chairs on deck. We think Finesse is magnificent!


Features




Finesse's Deck Plan
Finesse's Deck Plan




FINESSE
2021 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS
TYPE VALUE
Mar 21 thru Apr 24
Jul 18 thru Aug 28
Oct 3 thru Oct 30
REGULAR
Apr 25 thru Jul 17
Aug 29 thru Oct 2
Cabin (per person, double occupancy)
$6,850
$8,050
Single Occupancy Supplement
$2,500
$2,900
Charter for 6
$47,800
$55,400
Charter for 7
$49,500
$57,600
Charter for 8
$51,200
$59,800

FINESSE
2022 SEASON PRICES in US DOLLARS
TYPE VALUE
Mar 27 thru Apr 30
Jul 17 thru Aug 27
Oct 9 thru Oct 29
REGULAR
May 1 thru Jul 16
Aug 28 thru Oct 8
Cabin (per person, double occupancy)
$7,250
$8,550
Single Occupancy Supplement
$2,650
$3,100
Charter for 6
$50,400
$58,900
Charter for 7
$52,200
$61,200
Charter for 8
$54,000
$63,500

What's Included
- 7 days and 6 nights on the barge in a cabin with private bath
- Transfers from Dijon to the barge and return for cabin bookings. Transfers from Paris, Geneva, Lyon, Dijon, or Le Creusot TGV station to the barge and return for charter bookings
- All meals beginning with dinner on Sunday through breakfast on Saturday, including one gastronomic lunch on shore
- All wines with lunches and dinners
- Open bar
- All escorted side-excursions (hot air balloon flights, golf, etc., at extra cost)
- Use of bicycles

What's Not Included
- Overseas air transportation to Paris and return
- Transportation from Paris to Dijon and return
- Suggested 5-7% gratuity for the crew, to be paid in equivalent Euros to the captain
- Trip cancellation insurance


Finesse
2021 Season Cruise Schedule*
Week Route (Or Reverse) Season
Mar 21 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Mar 28 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
Apr 4 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Apr 11 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
Apr 18 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Apr 25 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
May 2 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
May 9 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
May 16 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
May 23 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
May 30 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Jun 6 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
Jun 13 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Jun 20 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
Jun 27 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Jul 4 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
Jul 11 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Jul 18 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
Jul 25 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Aug 1 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
Aug 8 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Aug 15 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
Aug 22 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Aug 29 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
Sep 5 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Sep 12 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
Sep 19 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Sep 26 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
Oct 3 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Oct 10 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
Oct 17 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Oct 24 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value

Finesse
2022 Season Cruise Schedule*
Week Route (Or Reverse) Season
Mar 27 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
Apr 3 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Apr 10 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
Apr 17 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Apr 24 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
May 1 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
May 8 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
May 15 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
May 22 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
May 29 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Jun 5 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
Jun 12 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Jun 19 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
Jun 26 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Jul 3 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
Jul 10 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Jul 17 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
Jul 24 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Jul 31 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
Aug 7 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Aug 14 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
Aug 21 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Aug 28 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
Sep 4 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Sep 11 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
Sep 18 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Sep 25 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Regular
Oct 2 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Regular
Oct 9 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value
Oct 16 St. Jean-St Julien-sur-Dheune Value
Oct 23 St Julien-sur-Dheune-St. Jean Value


*Note: Cruise directions and sample itineraries may be in reverse and are subject to change and may depend on bookings and local navigation conditions. Alternate excursions of equal appeal are substituted when needed. For charter cruises special itineraries can be arranged.






SAMPLE ITINERARY*
Burgundy: Canal du Centre
Saint-Julien-sur-Dheune to Chalon-sur-Saone 2023

Chateau-de-Germolles
Chateau-de-Germolles

Chateau Clos de Vougeot
Chateau Clos de Vougeot

Hotel Dieu Hospice
Hotel Dieu Hospice

Autun Roman Amphitheatre
Autun Roman Amphitheatre

Sunday - Saint-Julien-sur-Dheune
Guests are met in Dijon* and transferred by air-conditioned minibus to Finesse for a champagne welcome and the opportunity to meet the crew. Then there is time to wander along the towpath to admire the classic Burgundy scenery before dinner on board.

Monday - Saint-Julien-sur-Dheune to Saint-Leger-sur-Dheune
This morning, we begin our voyage through Southern Burgundy along the Canal du Centre through undulating countryside to moor at the little village of Saint-Leger-sur-Dheune. We descend a series of 11 locks while cruising past the villages along the way. After lunch on board, we visit the 14th century Château de Germolles, the best preserved of the residences of the Dukes of Burgundy, with its ducal chapel, medieval wall paintings and romantic gardens. Dinner on board.

Tuesday - Saint-Leger-sur-Dheune to Remigny
This morning, we head to Autun, founded by the Romans as Augustodunum it has retained many of its original Antique monuments such as Roman gates, ruins of a Temple and a 17,000 seat amphitheater. We return to the barge for lunch, then we cruise to the rural setting of Remigny, passing along the route picturesque Burgundian villages such as the famous wine-producing village of Santenay. Dinner on board.

Wednesday - Remigny to Rully
After breakfast, we set off on a drive through the UNESCO-listed Côte de Beaune vineyards to the town of Beaune itself, which is the capital of Burgundy’s wine country. Our first stop will be a visit to the oldest winemakers in Burgundy, Maison Champey. Guests will enjoy a private tour of the wine cellars and experience a wine tasting, learning from an expert about the production of the region’s finest Premier and Grand Cru wines. A private lunch is served in a unique dining venue, which has been created from one of the winery’s historic large wooden wine vats or “cuves”. We then we go on to visit the stunning 15th century Hôtel-Dieu Hospice and return to the barge for an afternoon cruise past the charming little town of Chagny, to our mooring near the village of Rully. Dinner on board.

Thursday - Rully to Fragnes
This morning, we continue our cruise along the Canal du Centre at a leisurely pace to moor at the village of Fragnes. There are perfect opportunities to walk or cycle along the towpath en route. In the afternoon we escort you on a winery tour and private tasting to the delightful Domaine Chanzy, one of Burgundy’s must-see wine estates thanks to its 80 hectares of vines growing over the three Burgundy hillsides. Dinner on board.

Friday - Fragnes to Chalon-sur-Saône
This morning, we make our final cruise of the week, passing through the last lock on the canal which lowers us an impressive 35 feet. We then head out onto the peaceful River Saône and turn downstream to our mooring at Chalon-sur-Saône with its elegant waterfront, imposing cathedral and opportunities for some last shopping. After lunch on board, we visit Clos de Vougeot***, headquarters of the esteemed Chevaliers du Tastevin (translates as "Fraternity of Knights of the Wine-Tasting Cup"), who award a special prized label to the finest Côte d‘Or vintages every year. Continue along the Route des Grands Cru through the Côte de Nuits, before returning to Finesse. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

Saturday - Chalon-sur-Saône
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to their choice of location in Dijon**.

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction.
**Other locations available for private Charter bookings.
*** On Friday afternoon, charter groups might wish to visit Dijon with its Cathedral and mustard shops instead of Clos de Vougeot. This can be discussed with the Captain once on-board.


Dining Aboard The Finesse:
SAMPLE MENU


A taste of the gourmet cuisine served aboard the
Finesse. LUNCH
DINNER
SAMPLE WINE LIST
Meursault; Pouilly-Fuissé; Nuits-St-Georges; Santenay; Chenas; Chablis; Gevrey-Chambertin; Sancerre

Passenger Comments:

We had a wonderful time on the Finesse. The boat and the staff were faultless. The extra communal space gave it a lovely feel and although it's maybe not as pretty a boat (externally) as Enchante, it was a more relaxed vessel to cruise on. The area was beautiful, food fantastic, service faultless. The additional wine trip to Chanzy was superb and probably better than the scheduled one. Louisa and Roger really have set up a great boat and team. We really admire what they have done on both boats. In short we loved it.
P.W. England

The chef was excellent and all the meals were top notch. Crew was very interactive and open which I appreciate. Even though the weather was bad a couple of days the large salon on the Finesse did not feel like we were on top of each other. The trip met and exceeded all of our expectations. We were on the Enchante in 2010 and the Finesse is even better. Rooms were huge with great bathrooms. I hope Roger and Louisa put a similar barge in the Bordeaux area. I would love to go there with the same experience.
C.L. CO, USA

The service was exceptional; friendly and anticipating ever need.The cabins were beautiful, clean and comfortable; could have used more hanging space. The meals were over the top. I had some special food issues and they were handled so nicely. Accommodating in a way that was so unnoticeable. Phenomenal food choices and paired with great wines.
T.B., CA, USA



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This page last updated December 25, 2023